St George’s Hospital unveils new energy centre

The new energy centre at St George's Hospital will save the trust over £1m a year in energy costs

St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, has revamped its energy centre in an effort to shave more than 10% off its annual bills.

Delivered by Centrica Business Solutions, the project is guaranteed to save the hospital over £1m a year with no upfront cost, while also reducing annual carbon emissions by 20% (6,000 tonnes) – equivalent to taking 3,000 cars off the road.

The new energy centre was officially opened on 29 June and features two combined heat and power (CHP) units that will deliver almost all of the power needed to run the hospital.

Centrica has also installed four boilers, a highly-efficient chiller system, and energy-efficient lighting and controls.

Jorge Pikunic, managing director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “I believe this is one of the most-significant energy projects in the country and a demonstration of how energy technologies can be combined to transform ageing infrastructure to make it more resilient, reduce costs, and make a positive impact in the environment.”

The St George’s energy centre has been delivered under a 15-year Energy Performance Contract (EPC) which will include operations and maintenance support.

Kevin Howell, director of estates and facilities at the hospital, said: “The NHS is focused on social, financial and environmental sustainability, and this project places St George’s at the forefront of these efforts.

“Ultimately, our aim is to create the best-possible environment for our patients and this new facility will allow us to do that while also maximising cost and energy efficiency.”